Project SOAR’s Approach to Research Utilization

The initiative is led by the Population Council and implemented in collaboration with several international partners. Project SOAR conducts operations research to produce high-quality evidence that can guide the planning and implementation of HIV programs and policies. The research utilization process is a critical component of Project SOAR's approach, aiming to bring together key stakeholders and researchers to make the research study more locally relevant and the findings more likely to be used. This process involves the purposeful identification and engagement of key stakeholders who provide input into priority program questions as researchers design the study. Stakeholders are engaged throughout the study process, including during data collection, analysis, and the planning to translate findings into action. The seven research utilization practices outlined in this document are adaptable to study needs and improve the likelihood that key stakeholders will promote and use study findings and recommendations to make programmatic and policy decisions. These practices include identifying key stakeholders, engaging stakeholders during study design, establishing a study-specific advisory panel, engaging stakeholders during data collection, working together with stakeholders to interpret findings and develop recommendations, producing the study report and holding a dissemination meeting, and coordinating the implementation of the Plan to Use Findings and Recommendations. The companion Research Utilization Process Toolkit contains tools and templates to help study teams put the plan into action. The Project SOAR management team requests that all SOAR studies implement the research utilization process, document its implementation, and identify the tools used. This is a USAID requirement of the project. SOAR's RU Advisor is available to aid study teams in tailoring this process to the needs of each study and supporting implementation through Project SOAR's global budget. The research utilization practices are designed to fit within normal operations research study implementation. Each study will need to budget for its research utilization process activities. The Project SOAR management team looks forward to working with study teams to apply this innovative strategy in a way that systematically tracks and implements the research utilization process across a large scope of studies. The Population Council, a nongovernmental, nonprofit organization, has been working on critical health and development issues, including stopping the spread of HIV, improving reproductive health, and ensuring that young people lead full and productive lives. Through biomedical, social science, and public health research in about 50 countries, the Council works with partners to deliver solutions that lead to more effective policies, programs, and technologies to improve lives worldwide. Established in 1952 and headquartered in New York, the Council is a leading international organization in the field of population and reproductive health. Project SOAR's research utilization approach is based on the work conducted by the Population Council and MEASURE Evaluation. The seven practices outlined in this document are designed to improve the likelihood that key stakeholders will promote and use study findings and recommendations to make programmatic and policy decisions. By implementing these practices, study teams can ensure that the research findings are used to inform decision-making processes and improve HIV prevention, care, and treatment programs.